The Norwegian Forest Cat

our queens:

The "Wegie" is a semi-longhaired cat. This gene for long hair is recessive to the dominant gene for short hair. When and where it came into being is not exactly known, fact is it was there to stay! Because Mother Nature was favorable to these longhaired cats in the extreme  regions of our world: they survived the bitter cold of Norwegian winters with more ease than their shorthaired "roomies" would have, so they were able to conquer the forests of Norway and stay there!

It's not certain how they got to Norway in the first place. Were they there when the Vikings started to roam the seas, and did they bring them along to keep the rats and mice from their rations? Did they find the cats in Egypt or the Middle East, and brought them home for their rodent-controlling skills?

They managed to find their way into the Vikings' hearts however, and into their stories: in 12th century hymns they pull the fiery wagon of the goddess Freya along the skies each day: the rising of the sun. I would say that's quite an important place in history!